China’s People’s Liberation Army forces conducted a “combat readiness patrol” in the waters and airspace surrounding Scarborough Shoal, known in Taiwan as Democracy Reef, on Wednesday, September 2. Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry condemned China’s actions as unsafe, irresponsible, and provocative, and called on Beijing to abide by international law and the principle of peaceful dispute resolution.

Scarborough Shoal is a coral atoll located west of the Philippine island of Luzon in the South China Sea. Taiwan, China, and the Philippines claim sovereignty over the feature.

In a press release on Wednesday evening, the Foreign Ministry condemned China’s conduct, saying that the so-called “combat readiness patrol” interfered with other countries’ normal flight operations through dangerous maneuvers. It also emphasized that it consistently opposes any party taking unilateral, unlawful actions to expand power and engaging in gray zone coercion, military deployment, or other actions that undermine peace in the South China Sea. The ministry called on China to abide by international law and the principle of peaceful dispute resolution.

The Foreign Ministry said that Taiwan will continue to work with like-minded countries and regional partners to jointly safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea, freedom of navigation and overflight, and a free, open, peaceful, and stable international order.